LEED® for Schools for New Construction and Major Renovations
Version 2007 contains both a prerequisite for classroom
acoustics and the potential for earning up to two credits for improved
acoustical design. TAP (Trane
Acoustics Program) can be used to meet both the prerequisite and
earn the credits.

Both the credits and the prerequisite
allow compliance by following the methodology in either ANSI
Standard S12.60-2002, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design
Requirements and Guidelines for Schools, or in the 2003 HVAC
Applications ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 47 on Sound and Vibration
Control. TAP is a useful tool in determining the HVAC component when
following either compliance path.

As outlined in LEED® EQ
prerequisite 3 attaining an acoustically appropriate environment for a
classroom requires controlling sound reflections, sound entering from
adjacent spaces, and background sound. Sound reflections, measured by
reverberation time, are controlled using sound absorbing materials on
the room surfaces. Sound entering from adjacent spaces is controlled
by designing the room using materials with sufficient STC (Sound
Transmission Class) ratings to block the unwanted sounds.

Background sound refers to the sound in the classroom that comes from
lights, plumbing, HVAC, and built-in equipment used during instruction
(e.g., AV equipment). As noted in the prerequisite, “Isolating HVAC
noise is probably the critical element to be considered in the design
phase. Isolating HVAC noise depends on the type of mechanical
equipment chosen and its location.” Modeling the background sound
generated by an HVAC system is exactly what TAP is designed to
do.

The equations (or algorithms) that drive TAP’s sound
calculations were originally pulled from Algorithms for HVAC
Acoustics, last published by ASHRAE in 1991. NEBB (National
Environmental Balancing Bureau) published an updated version of the
algorithms in 1994. Since 1991 ASHRAE has published updated algorithms
in both the Applications Handbooks and in research papers. TAP has
been periodically updated to incorporate all the changes made by
ASHRAE. As a result, TAP is an excellent tool for the predicting
background sound levels from HVAC equipment.

According to a recent survey, 25% of our customers are not aware
that our software is sold with a one-year license agreement and that
there is an annual renewal fee. Almost 17% are unaware of the services
available to current license holders. C.D.S. would like to address
this issue by highlighting key services available to current license
holders.

When you license C.D.S. software annually, you
are entitled to the following:

World-Class
Support. The license agreement includes unlimited calls and
e-mails to the C.D.S. support center. Our dedicated support
specialists are available to answer your questions five days a week
and are located with the applications engineering group – authors of
industry-recognized educational materials and Engineers Newsletters.
C.D.S.– will answer your questions promptly and provide solutions for
your HVAC design.

Training Services. Our support
specialists provide training six times a year in La Crosse, Wis.
Training can also be arranged on-site. (Course fees do apply.) Courses
cover a broad range of topics. Or custom training can be scheduled
onsite to fit your particular needs.

Superior Software
built on Trane expertise. C.D.S. continually updates software
with the HVAC industry’s latest trends and requirements. As a licensed
user, you can download software updates from the C.D.S. website
throughout the year. Customers have a direct line to C.D.S. Support to
provide program feedback or recommendations for product
enhancements.

To find out the full range of services
available to C.D.S. license holders, contact the C.D.S. Support Center
at 608-787-3926 or email cdshelp@trane.com.

Brainstorming to Improve Appendix G of ASHRAE 90.1

When: Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Where: GreenBuild, Boston, MA - Room 160ABC

Time: noon-1:00PM

If you have used ASHRAE
Appendix G Performance Rating Method to qualify for LEED-NC EA Credit
1 points, you probably have ideas on how it can be improved. This
session is your opportunity to contribute those ideas on how to
improve Appendix G. The 90.1 Energy Cost Budget subcommittee is
inviting you to this special meeting at GreenBuild to gather
improvement ideas. We will start with brainstorming a list of possible
Appendix G changes and then vote to identify the highest priority
improvements. We want to improve Appendix G based on ideas from people
who regularly use Appendix G. For further questions or details email
the 90.1 Energy Cost Budget subcommittee at 901ecb@lists.onebuilding.org.

TRACE does not have any one single entry dedicated to providing a
factor of safety. Instead, the idea of "design conditions"
is present through nearly every entry in the program. The closest
field entry in TRACE that would represent how some might interpret
"safety factor" would be the "percent of design
capacity" field under the "coils" tab of "Create
Systems". TRACE is a load, energy and economic tool intended to
provide an accurate analysis representation of the building based on
the user entries. The program results can be as moderate or
conservative as the user sees fit.

It is the user's
responsibility to account for safety factors by using conservative
information while inputting the values in the different sections of
the program.

What is the difference between zone and room level Coils?

Airside systems can have system-, zone-, or room-level coils and
fans. For accurate simulations, correct zoning is essential, because
the level of the fans and coils will affect how the rooms and zones
should be configured.

A zone-level coil is a coil
that serves several room that are grouped together into a thermally
similar zone. Each zone has its own thermostat that controls the
zone-level coil. Single zone (SZ) and Variable Temperature Constant
Volume (VCTC) systems have zone level coils. These systems have only
two coils: the cooling coil and the main heating coil. Examples of
reports that contain zone level information are: - Zone Checksums
Report - Peak Load Summary Report - System Component Selection
Report.

A room-level coil is a coil that is
located in a room, and only serves the room in which it is located. In
this case, every room has its own thermostat to control the room-level
coil. Fan Coils PTACs, and Water Source Heat Pumps have room level
cooling and heating coils. If a coil is located on the room or zone
level, then its selection information (capacity) entering conditions,
and airflow) should be taken from a zone or room level report.
Examples of reports that contain room level information are: - Room
Checksums Report - Peak Load Summary Report - System Component
Selection Report.

A system-level unit serves all rooms
are zones assigned to that system. System-level units, each airside
system would represent an air handler or RTU. All VAV systems have a
room level heating coil. That coil could be the main heating coil or
the reheat coil, depending on the actual system. To determine the
location of all coils in your system, refer to the Schematics tab in
Create Systems or the TRACE help entry entitled System Type
Characteristics. Reports to look at after the calculation are the
System Component Selection report and the System Checksums. This
document can also be found in the CDS\TRACE700\Documentation folder.

Why should I zone my building?

In TRACE 700, the Assign Rooms to Systems section of the program is
used to configure the rooms and zones on the airside systems. Airside
systems can have system-, zone-, or room-level coils and fans. For
accurate simulations, correct zoning is essential, because the level
of the fans and coils will affect how the rooms and zones should be
configured. Three examples are presented in the TRACE 700 Users Manual
pp. 6-47-50.

Meet C.D.S. Support

Eric Sturm

Eric joined Trane in 2006 as a marketing engineer with Customer
Direct Services (C.D.S.). He is a graduate of the University of
Wisconsin-Platteville with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical
Engineering. In his current role, Eric supports customers with many
Trane software programs including TRACE 700, System Analyzer, and
Engineering Toolbox. Eric is native of North-Central Wisconsin and
enjoys all forms of music (especially Blues), building computers,
camping, down-hill skiing, and biking.

Q. What three items would you want if stranded on a desert island?

If I were stranded on a desert island, I would take my Led Zeppelin
concert collection, a solar-powered device to play the music, and a
large supply potable water and food.